Confucius office opens

A University of Otago office of the Confucius Institute was
launched in Dunedin last night.

International pro-vice chancellor Prof Helen Nicholson said
the office was a satellite of the Confucius Institute in
Auckland - an organisation focused on fostering closer
cultural, social and business relations between China and New
Zealand through the promotion of Chinese (Mandarin) in
schools.

Prof Nicholson said the event also marked the development of
an memorandum of understanding that would result in Otago
University working with the Confucius Institute at the
University of Canterbury to facilitate the promotion of
Chinese language and culture in Dunedin schools and the
community.